title: [The interstitial photocoagulation with laser light of liver tumors].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Interstitial laser photocoagulation (ILP) is a recent interventional procedure performed under US or CT guidance which is capable of inducing thermal necrosis in solid tumors. We have used this technique for about 2 years to treat primary and secondary liver cancers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five patients, 20 of them with liver metastases and 15 with HCC, have been examined: 59 lesions in all, ranging in diameter 10 to 65 mm. Forty-nine lesions have been followed-up for at least 2 months and 25 for at least 6 months. The treatment was performed positioning one to six (18-21 G) modified Chiba needles in the lesions to be treated, according to their sizes, under US or CT guidance. The optical fibers (400-800 mu) were then inserted and the Laser was fired to administer 1,000 Joule/session, with 5-10 W power range. The US and CT patterns of the ILP-treated lesions are reported.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dynamic CT examinations 2 months after treatment showed complete tumor destruction in 77.5% of the lesions. The best results were obtained in the lesions < 3 cm phi; in particular, 32/38 lesions (84.2%) < 3 cm and with at least 2 months' follow-up exhibited complete necrosis, as did 6 of 11 lesions (54.6%) over 3 cm phi. When residual tumor tissue was demonstrated, further ILP sessions were useless. We observed only few complications which resolved spontaneously in all cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At present, ILP remains an experimental procedure: further studies on larger series of patients and comparison with the results of other interventional procedures are needed to confirm its efficacy in treating primary and secondary liver cancers.
authors.affiliation: Servizio di Radiologia Diagnostica, Ospedale S. Anna, Como.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Caspani
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cecconi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bottelli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Della Vigna
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ideo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gozzi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional
vernacular_title: Fotocoagulazione interstiziale con luce laser dei tumori del fegato.